Business Economics

noun the cost required for something; the money spent on something

• The company is reviewing its expenses to identify areas for cost reduction.
• I can't go on that trip, it's too much of an expense right now.
• I can't hang out tonight, I'm low on funds and can't afford the expense.
• His constant negativity is an emotional expense that I can no longer afford.

noun a price that is too high

verb to set a price that is too high

• The consumer protection agency found that the store was intentionally overpricing their products.
• I can't believe they're trying to overprice those sneakers, they're not even that special.
• That store is always trying to rip people off by overpricing everything.
• His ego is so inflated, it's like he's overpricing himself in the dating market.

noun A sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive.

• The government provides a subsidy to farmers to help offset the cost of crop production.
• My friend told me she gets a subsidy from her workplace for her transportation expenses.
• I heard you can get a subsidy if you know how to work the system.
• Receiving his father's approval felt like a subsidy to his self-esteem.

noun an amount of money owed by a customer to a business for goods or services provided on credit

• The company's financial statements show a high level of account receivable, indicating a strong sales performance.
• We need to follow up on those account receivable to make sure we get paid on time.
• I heard the boss is cracking down on late account receivable, so we better stay on top of it.
• Account receivable is like a ticking time bomb - if we don't manage it properly, it could blow up in our faces.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'actual' can also function as a noun, representing something that is real or existing in fact.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun. In this case, 'actual' is an adjective that specifies that the cost being referred to is real or factual, as opposed to estimated or projected.

• The actual cost of the project turned out to be higher than initially estimated.
• I didn't realize the actual cost of the concert tickets until I checked my bank statement.
• I was shocked when I found out the actual cost of the repairs - it was way more than I expected.
• The actual cost of pursuing your dreams may be higher than you anticipate, but it's worth it in the end.